I love surprises!
How about you?
I don’t mean the “jump out at you and give you a heart attack kind.”
I mean the “I never would have expected this—in a good way” kind.
There’s a favorite word of mine that I don’t often hear used—but I try to insert it as often as possible.
That word is “serendipity” (or serendipitous).
The proper definition of the word is “to come upon good luck or favorable circumstances by accident.”
I like to frame it this way: to be pleasantly amazed by the unexpected.
Here’s one example of the way I have used it:
“If you are the smartest person in the room, don’t set out to prove it; let it be a serendipitous discovery for everyone else.” (You may quote me on that).
Of course I’ve also heard it said that if you are the smartest person in the room you are probably in the wrong room!
Another example of serendipity happened to me many years ago when I decided to start working on a doctorate and had no idea how I was going to pay for it.
One day I got a note in the mail from one of my church members. In it was a check that was enough to cover my plane ticket to San Francisco (and other expenses) for one of my seminars. The note said, “I had to choose between a red leather skirt and you. You won.”
This lady was almost 80 years old!
Mrs. Sweetie and I have something special coming up next year. It’s really a once in a lifetime kind of deal. I’m not going to share the details because that’s not important at the moment. (Maybe I’ll share some after it’s over).
I can’t begin to tell you the serendipitous moments that have happened since we started planning this. Even today, something happened related to this event that I never would have expected in a bazillion years!
I’m so much in shock over it that it changed my intended focus for today’s post.
It is a big deal!
But here’s what I don’t want to miss: we have serendipitous opportunities every day if we’re paying attention and if we are preparing ourselves.
Preparing ourselves? How do you prepare for unexpected moments of amazingness?
Two things come to mind:
1. Get your heart and mind focused at the beginning of each day on what matters most.
This morning I read my hymn text of the day (which many readers know is an important part of my daily rhythm). Today’s hymn was “All for Jesus” written by Mary D. James and published in 1871.
The first stanza says,“All for Jesus, all for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed powers; All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours.”
For me, as a follower of Jesus, I need to begin each day re-centering myself on my identity as a worshiper on mission to live out the Christ-life. Everything I do is because of who He is in me.2. Trust that your life matters to God.
Back in those days of doctoral study I was required to keep a journal every day for six months. No exceptions, no excuses. Every day. In the morning, I journaled my plans/preparations for the day. In the evening, I journaled my reflections on the day.
One question that I had to answer every day at the end of the day: “Where was God in what you did today?”
Sometimes I didn’t see the serendipitous moments when they were happening. It was only in reflecting back over the day that I often said, “Well, how about that!”
Serendipity is not always a big deal, but it is always an opportunity to be amazed by how God loves us.
Be amazing today, my friend.
Just an ordinary guy living an amazing life. Amazed by God and joining Him in His amazing activity in the world. Seeking the flourishing of fellow travelers.
Author, Blogger, Speaker, Singer, CoachSultant, Husband, Dad, Grandpa.
I love surprises!
How about you?
I don’t mean the “jump out at you and give you a heart attack kind.”
I mean the “I never would have expected this—in a good way” kind.
There’s a favorite word of mine that I don’t often hear used—but I try to insert it as often as possible.
That word is “serendipity” (or serendipitous).
The proper definition of the word is “to come upon good luck or favorable circumstances by accident.”
I like to frame it this way: to be pleasantly amazed by the unexpected.
Here’s one example of the way I have used it:
“If you are the smartest person in the room, don’t set out to prove it; let it be a serendipitous discovery for everyone else.” (You may quote me on that).
Of course I’ve also heard it said that if you are the smartest person in the room you are probably in the wrong room!
Another example of serendipity happened to me many years ago when I decided to start working on a doctorate and had no idea how I was going to pay for it.
One day I got a note in the mail from one of my church members. In it was a check that was enough to cover my plane ticket to San Francisco (and other expenses) for one of my seminars. The note said, “I had to choose between a red leather skirt and you. You won.”
This lady was almost 80 years old!
Mrs. Sweetie and I have something special coming up next year. It’s really a once in a lifetime kind of deal. I’m not going to share the details because that’s not important at the moment. (Maybe I’ll share some after it’s over).
I can’t begin to tell you the serendipitous moments that have happened since we started planning this. Even today, something happened related to this event that I never would have expected in a bazillion years!
I’m so much in shock over it that it changed my intended focus for today’s post.
It is a big deal!
But here’s what I don’t want to miss: we have serendipitous opportunities every day if we’re paying attention and if we are preparing ourselves.
Preparing ourselves? How do you prepare for unexpected moments of amazingness?
Two things come to mind:
1. Get your heart and mind focused at the beginning of each day on what matters most.
This morning I read my hymn text of the day (which many readers know is an important part of my daily rhythm). Today’s hymn was “All for Jesus” written by Mary D. James and published in 1871.
The first stanza says,“All for Jesus, all for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed powers; All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours.”
